4-H clubs and FFA chapters throughout central and southern Illinois will implement valuable improvement projects in their communities with help from grants provided by Farm Credit Illinois. FCI awarded $500 grants to 50 4-H clubs and FFA chapters to deliver projects that will make their local communities better places to live.

This is the 11^th year FCI has funded community improvement grants; the total amount awarded is nearly $135,000. Examples of this year’s award-winning projects include managing community gardens, sprucing up fairgrounds and community parks, and constructing resting benches.

 “Farm Credit is grateful to team-up with youth organizations as they improve the health of rural communities,” says Rod Stoll, vice president of marketplace engagement for FCI. “We salute the 2019 grant recipients who are making positive, tangible changes to Rural America.”

The following 4-H clubs and FFA chapters are 2019 community improvement grant recipients:

• Liberty 4-H Club (Bond County): Construct a backdrop for Bond County Fair champions and reserve champions
• Old Ripley 4-H Club (Bond County): Provide garden and landscaping improvements to Old Ripley Church of Christ in Pocahontas
• Hardin Busy Bees 4-H Club (Calhoun County): Update the grounds of Hardin Pool
• Beardstown FFA Chapter (Cass County): Create outdoor classroom at Beardstown Elementary School
• River Valley 4-H Club (Cass County): Provide landscaping at Veterans' Memorial in Roy Roberts Park in Beardstown
• Fantastic 4-Hers of Fisher Club (Champaign County): Construct park benches for Mary Lammle Park
• Mahomet-Seymour FFA Chapter (Champaign County): Provide enhancements to Bulldog Trails at Middletown Prairie Middle School in Mahomet
• Sadorus All-Stars 4-H Club (Champaign County): Construct picnic tables for East Side Park in Tolono
• Casey-Westfield FFA Chapter (Clark County): Build resting benches for Casey's downtown district
• Beyond the Bell 4-H Club (Clay County): Plant community garden for Flora residents
• Clovers & Cloverettes 4-H Club (Clinton County): Plant trees and expand garden at Veterans’ Park in Germantown
• Coles County 4-H Clubs (Coles County): Plant flowers throughout Coles County fairgrounds
• Coles County All Stars 4-H Club (Coles County): Construct benches for Coles County fairgrounds
• Impact 4-H Club (Coles County): Plant a community garden to feed hungry neighbors in Mattoon
• Lincoln Railsplitters 4-H Club (Coles County): Install dog agility equipment at Charleston dog park
• Ellery Panthers 4-H Club (Edwards County): Beautify Little Prairie Christian Church in Albion
• Gallatin Co 4-H Saddle Club (Gallatin County): Construct concession stand for Gallatin County Fair
• Carrollton FFA Chapter (Greene County): Color up Carrollton – grow and plant flowers in the town square
• Greenfield FFA Chapter (Greene County): Make improvements to Greenfield Rives Lake Nature Center
• Funny Farmers 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Repair and replace raised beds at GIFT Garden in McLeansboro
• Hamilton County 4-H Federation (Hamilton County): Paint murals on buildings throughout McLeansboro
• Pioneer Country Kids 4-H Club (Hamilton County): Clean-up Kiwanis Park in McLeansboro
• Hardin County Corn Fed Clovers 4-H Club (Hardin County): Plant flower gardens at Hardin County Sheriff's Department
• Cloverdale 4-H Club (Logan County): Initiate monarch habitat at Dr. G Dennis Campbell Outdoor Center in Lincoln
• Northwestern FFA Chapter (Macoupin County): Provide landscaping at four-way stop in Palmyra
• Northwestern Green Machines 4-H Club (Macoupin County): Provide improvements to Palmyra Park
• Quercus Grove 4-H Club (Madison County): Plant community garden at St. John's United Methodist Church to feed Edwardsville neighbors
• Make It 4-H Club (Montgomery County): Plant a butterfly garden at Madison Park School in Litchfield
• Berea Ag 4-H Club (Morgan County): Beautify Morgan County fairgrounds
• East Side Jr's 4-H Club (Morgan County): Improve chicken barns at Morgan County fairgrounds
• Franklin Straight Shooters 4-H Club (Morgan County): Landscape around Franklin School District addition
• Triopia FFA Chapter (Morgan County): Plant community garden at Triopia High School for hungry neighbors
• Monticello FFA Chapter (Piatt County): Implement a children's community sensory garden at Kirby Medical Center in Monticello
• Pope County FFA Chapter (Pope County): Build high tunnel and provide landscaping at Pope County High School
• Southern Smilers 4-H Club (Richland County): Provide landscaping at the Richland County Fair board office
• Carrier Mills-Stonefort FFA Chapter (Saline County): Plant a community garden at Carrier Mills-Stonefort High School
• Harrisburg FFA Chapter (Saline County): Build a tower garden at East Side Primary School in Harrisburg
• Lads & Lassie 4-H Club (Saline County): Rehabilitate Galatia Public Library entrance
• West Side 4-H Club (Sangamon County): Construct picnic tables for Sangamon County fairgrounds
• Williamsville FFA Chapter (Sangamon County): Build planter boxes for Williamsville Elementary School
• Findlay Feeders 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide improvements to Findlay community garden
• Shelby County 4-H Federation (Shelby County): Install high-backed seat swings at Forest Park in Shelbyville
• Shelbyville Cloverbuds 4-H Club (Shelby County): Construct raised beds for Shelbyville community garden
• Stewardson-Strasburg FFA Chapter (Shelby County): Enhance Mr. Wildman Memorial Garden at Stewardson-Strasburg High School
• Strasburg Tailtwisters 4-H Club (Shelby County): Provide improvements to livestock barns at Shelby County fairgrounds
• Nashville Eager Beavers 4-H Club (Washington County): Build picnic tables for Washington County fairgrounds
• Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club (White County): Clean up and provide maintenance to play areas at Willis Park in Enfield
• Mad Hatters 4-H Club (White County): Expand garden beds at Wabash Heritage Apartments in Carmi
• White County 4-H Federation (White County): Build raised beds for White County GIFT Garden

Pictured above: The Carrollton FFA Chapter accepting their 2018 community improvement grant check.